Village of Orland Park Prepares for More Snow

ORLAND PARK, IL (Jan 31, 2014) – The Village of Orland Park Public Works Department is prepared for yet more snow to hit Chicago’s southland area.

Friday night’s winds of up to 10 miles per hour include a 60% chance of one to three inches Friday night. Scattered flurries are predicted with snow likely after midnight continuing through 2 a.m. on Saturday.

“If the forecast is correct, Orland Park could expect as much as eight additional inches of snow on Saturday,” said Director of Infrastructure Maintenance John Ingram. “This is why we are again sharing the village’s snow tips and reminding residents what they can do to help the village’s plowing crews,” he said.

Saturday’s forecast calls for a 100% chance of snow with the heaviest, wet snow falling between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Accumulations of four to eight inches are possible for Orland Park.

Parking on village streets is prohibited once two inches of snow fall. Parked vehicles must be kept off the street for 10 hours after it snows, enabling plowing crews to make clear passes.

Residents should never push shoveled snow into the street and always to the lawn or parkway.

“This has been a huge problem this year,” Ingram said. “People may think that the plows will come through and clear the snow that residents push to the street but this is not the case. Snow that’s pushed to the street becomes packed and frozen and creates a serious hazard at the end of the residents’ driveways. Always snow blow or push shoveled snow to the lawn --- always,” he emphasized.

Plowing crews are on call for snow removal as staff monitor the start of the snow fall and its accumulations.

Orland Park’s other snow tips include keeping trash toters behind the curbline to prevent them from rolling into the street. Residents who are physically able are asked to clear a path to fire
hydrants from the street, clearing a three foot perimeter around the hydrant so firefighters can access it quickly and easily in an emergency.

“We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during what has been one of the worst winters we’ve seen in a long time,” said Ingram. “Our crews take their jobs very seriously and do all that they can to make Orland Park streets safe and accessible each time it snows,” he said.

The Village of Orland Park will continue to share weather updates and snow reminders through the local media, on its website at orlandpark.org, its Facebook page at Facebook.com/VillageofOrlandPark and via its Twitter feed at twitter.com/VillageOrlandPk.